Open end ratchet wrench

ABSTRACT

An open end ratchet wrench having a laminar head structure consisting of a central body portion with a pair of side caps permanently metal bonded on opposite sides thereof, the head structure defining therein between the caps an arcuate channel within which a spring biased ratchet pawl is slidable between an extended torquing position and a retracted ratcheting position. A pawl retention detent forming a permanent part of the head structure is movable between a temporary open position permitting insertion of the pawl and its biasing spring into the otherwise completely fabricated head structure, and a permanent closed position wherein the pawl is permanently retained in the head, the detent means defining the outer limit of sliding movement of the pawl in the head. With this construction a true open end ratchet wrench can be economically fabricated of any desired tool metal with a minimum number of parts and by simple production steps; the resulting wrench having high torquing capacity, minimal head thickness, and attractive appearance, approaching these respective characteristics in a solid open end wrench of comparable size.

United States Patent Glass et al.

[ Oct. 3, 1972 [54] OPEN END RATCHET WRENCH [72] Inventors: Robert I.Glass, Holyoke; William Phillips; William R. House, both of Northampton,all of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Cesco Mfg. Corp., Northampton,

Mass.

22 Filed: Oct. 6, 1970 21 App1.No.: 78,472

[52] US. Cl ..81/179 [51] Int. Cl. ..B25b 13/12 [58] Field of Search..8l/lll, 117, 179

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,797,600 7/1957 Beaver..81/179 1,320,668 1l/1919 Askman ..81/179 2,185,002 12/1939 Pack..81/63 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 983,789 2/1965 Great Britain..81/111 Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr. AttorneyAlbert L. Gabriel[5.7] ABSTRACT An open end ratchet wrench having a laminar headstructure consisting of a central body portion with a pair of side capspermanently metal bonded on opposite sides thereof, the head structuredefining therein between the caps an arcuate channel within which aspring biased ratchet pawl is slidable between an extended torquingposition and a retracted ratcheting position. A pawl retention detentforming a permanent part of the head structure is movable between atemporary open position permitting insertion of the pawl and its biasingspring into the otherwise completely fabricated head structure, and apermanent closed position wherein the pawl is permanently retained inthe head, the detent means defining the outer limit of sliding movementof the pawl in the head. With this construction a true open end ratchetwrench can be economically fabricated of any desired tool metal with aminimum number of parts and by simple production steps; the resultingwrench having high torquing capacity, minimal head thickness, andattractive appearance, approaching these respective characteristics in asolid open end wrench of comparable size.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDuma m2 SHEET 1 BF 3 s r s p: a Mwmmw 2 MM m MM mm eww Y 5 PATENTED BI 3 I972 3.895.125

SHEET 2 or 3 INVENTORS 1908587 I 62/483 W/ll/AM L P/l/Lt/PS BY WILLIAM1?. HOUSE Arne/v6 r OPEN END RATCHET WRENCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe solid open end wrench is one of the more widely used torquinginstruments today, because it is relatively inexpensive, simple andattractive in construction, has high torquing capability, and can beemployed in relatively tightly confined regions. However, the solid openend wrench has one major drawback, namely, that in a confined regionwherein the wrench cannot be rotated through 180, it must be completelydisengaged from the workpiece after an arc of travel upon reaching thelimit of rotational movement allowed by the confined space, and thenre-engaged with a different pair of torquing surfaces on the workpieceand moved through another are of travel, and a succession of suchmanipulations which can be quite tedious and time-consuming is required.

There has accordingly been a long-felt need in the art for a torquingtool or instrument which has the same general form and utility as theconventional open end wrench, but additionally has a ratchetingcapability so that a succession of torquing impulses can be appliedthereby to a workpiece that is located in a confined space by simplyswinging the tool back and forth through a confined arc of travel, thetool turning the workpiece as it moves in one direction through the arcand ratcheting about the workpiece to recover gripping position as itmoves in the other direction through the are. There have been a numberof prior art attempts to fill this long-felt need in the art for an openend wrench having a ratcheting capability. Perhaps the most satisfactorydevices of this general type are shown and described in US. Pat. No.2,797,600, issued July 2, 1957 to Bud K. Beaver for Ratchet Type MovableJaw Wrench. While the wrenches disclosed in the Beaver patent and otherprior art wrenches have in fact been open end type wrenches with aratcheting capability, nevertheless, prior art wrenches of this generaltype have in general been so much more difficult to make, complicatedand expensive than the conventional solid open end wrench, while at thesame time having much less torquing capacity than the solid open endwrench, that they have not come into any widespread usage, and inparticular have not appreciably replaced the solid open end type wrenchdespite their much greater utility.

There were a number of specific problems in connection with prior artratchet type open end wrenches which contributed to the inability ofsuch wrenches to be in any way competitive on the market with solid openend wrenches. For one thing, such prior art open end wrenches generallyrequired difficult press forging or milling operations in thefabrication thereof which not only made them very expensive to make, butalso effectively precluded the use of stainless steels, berylliumcopper, or other exotic materials which are desirable in tools destinedfor marine and various other specialized applications.

Another problem with prior art wrenches of this type is that they weregenerally undesirably complicated, involving a number of small partssuch as pivot pins, levers, intricate special springs, separate headcaps, screws, and the like, which were expensive to make, difficult toassemble, and presented vulnerable wear points and structuralweaknesses.

Another specific problem in connection with prior art wrenches of thistype is that in confined spaces most of them were required to be engagedover a bolt head, nut, or other workpiece from the side, and could notuniformly and reliably be engaged straight onto the workpiece in theconfined area. This meant that it was generally extremely difficult toengage the wrench head onto the workpiece blind.

Other and more general problems with such prior art wrenches are thattheir torquing capacity was not nearly as good as that of solid open endwrenches of comparable size, their wrench head structures were generallysubstantially thicker than those of solid open end wrenches ofcomparable size making them more difficult to use in tightly confinedspaces and giving them an undesirable head-heavy appearance, and theirgeneral overall appearance departed too much from that of theconventional solid open end wrench to have the same customer appeal asthe solid open end wrench.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these and other problems in the art,it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel openend ratchet wrench of the character described which is similar ingeneral appearance to a simple solid open end wrench, and hence has asimilar customer appeal, which has a head thickness approaching that ofa conventional solid open end wrench, which has a torquing capacity ofthe same order of magnitude as that of a conventional solid open endwrench, yet which is simple in construction, durable, and can beproduced economically by manufacturing steps which are not only easilyperformed but require relatively inexpensive tooling and can beperformed in the production of wrenches of any desired tool material.

An open end ratchet wrench according to the present invention has alaminar head structure consisting of a central body portion with a pairof side caps that are permanently metal bonded on opposite sidesthereof, as by welding or brazing. Defined within this head structurebetween the side caps is an arcuate channel within which a spring biasedratchet pawl is slidable between an extended torquing position and aretracted ratcheting position. The pawl and spring are retained in thehead by novel detent means forming a permanent part of the head whichpermits the wrench head structure to be completely fabricated prior toassembly of the pawl and its spring therein. The detent means is movablebetween a temporary open position permitting insertion of the pawl andits biasing spring into the otherwise completed head structure, and apermanent closed position wherein the pawl is permanently retained inthe head, with the detent means defining the outer limit of slidingmovement of the pawl in the head.

In one form of the invention this pawl retention detent comprises tabmeans formed integrally with at least one of the side caps of the head,the tab means being bent approximately transversely and inwardlyrelative to the general plane of the wrench head so as to define theinner race of the arcuate channel in which the pawl slides. This tabmeans is resiliently deflectable to allow insertion of the pawl and itsbiasing spring into the head, and upon release the tab means springsback into a permanent retention position.

In another form of the invention the pawl retention detent comprisesdeformable tip means on the free end of an inner race structure thatforms a part of the central body portion of the wrench head. Thisdeformable tip means on the inner race is originally provided in theopen position permitting insertion of the pawl and its biasing spring,after which the tip is permanently inwardly deformed to a retentionposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an open endratchet wrench of the character described wherein the wrench body andhead structures are of unitary construction after fabrication, and theonly movable parts of the completed wrench are the pawl and its biasingspring.

A further object of the invention is to provide an open end ratchetwrench of the character described wherein the structural arrangement ofthe parts permits the head and handle portions of the wrench to beformed by simple die cutting or fine blanking operations, and difficultmilling or press forging operations are not required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an open endratchet wrench of the character described which has no removable sideplates on the head, pivot pins, snap-in spring-loaded detent structuresfor insertion of the pawl, or other small, intricate parts that may beunreliable or subject to wear, and which would otherwise complicate theassembly of the tool.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an open endratchet wrench of the character described which can be engaged straightonto the workpiece in a confined region, the pawl automatically seekingand gripping a wrenching surface on the. workpiece, whereby the tool canbe engaged and operated blind.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ratchet wrench of thecharacter described which, because of its novel construction, can bemade of any desired tool material, as for example various stainlesssteels, beryllium copper, or other exotic materials, and which thereforecan be made for marine or other specialized uses.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appearduring the course of the following part of the specification, whereinthe details of construction and mode of operation of several presentlypreferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewillustrating a completely assembled open end ratchet wrench according toone form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front end elevational view taken on the line 2--2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of the wrench shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, looking at the same side as in FIG. 1, with a portion ofone of the side caps of the head removed to disclose the arcuate channelin the head and the manner in which the pawl and its biasing spring aremounted therein.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the wrench shown in FIGS. 1to 3, illustrating the parts of the wrench prior to assembly thereof.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the head portionof the wrench shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 after the head structure has beenassembled, but prior to insertion of the pawl and its biasing springtherein.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the manner in whichthe pawl and its spring are inserted into the head assembly.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view generally similar to FIG. 4, butillustrating a second form of the invention wherein the central bodyportion of the head structure is of laminar construction.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the wrench of FIG.7 in its completely assembled condition.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the wrenchshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with one of the side caps of the head structureremoved to illustrate the manner in which retention of the pawl and itsbiasing spring is accomplished, and with the pawl shown in its extendedtorquing position.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but illustrating the wrench with thepawl in a retracted ratcheting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring at first to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings,which disclose a first form of the invention, the open end ratchetwrench illustrated in these figures is generally designated 10, andincludes respective handle and head portions 12 and 14. While the wrench10 as illustrated has only a single head portion 14 of the open endratchet type at one end thereof, it is to be understood that anotherhead may be provided on the other end of the wrench, which other headmay be either a solid open end head or a second ratchet head ofdifferent size than the head 14, without departing from the presentinvention.

A unitary wrench body 16 forms both the handle portion 12 of the wrenchl0 and the inner or core part 18 of the wrench head 14, as is best seenin FIG. 4. This head part 18 of the unitary body 16 includes a fixed jawportion 20 having a generally flat wrenching surface 22, and an opposedpawl support portion 24 which defines part of an arcuate outer racesurface 26 which continues into the yoke part of the head core 18. Thepawl support portion 24 of the head core 18 terminates at its free endin an inclined end surface 28.

The body 16 of the wrench, including both the handle 12 and the inner orcore part 18 of the head structure, can be formed by a simple diecutting or fine blanking operation, and if a precision tolerance isdesired for the arcuate outer race surface 26, and possibly for thewrenching surface 22, this can be provided by simple broaching andgrinding. If desired, of course, the wrench body 16 can be drop or pressforged, but this is not necessary for a satisfactory product, and wouldadd to the manufacturing cost.

The side caps for the head may also be die cut or fine blanked. One headside cap 30 includes a fixed jaw portion 32 that is generallyco-extensive with the fixed jaw portion 20 of the head core 18, and apawl retention portion 34 which overlaps the pawl support portion 24 ofthe head core 18 and also defines one side of the arcuate channel withinwhich the pawl is slidably mounted. The pawl retention portion 34 of theside cap 30 has a forwardly and outwardly inclined inner edge 36, andgenerally centrally formed on the side cap 30 as an integral partthereof is a retention tab 38 which is bent inwardly so as to extendgenerally normal from the plane of the cap 30, or transverse to thegeneral plane of the wrench head 14. The retention tab 38 forms theinner race of the arcuate channel in which the pawl is slidable, and isresiliently deflectable from its generally normal position relative tothe plane of the cap 30 to permit insertion of the pawl and its biasingspring into the channel. The retention tab 38 terminates at a free edge40 which is parallel to the plane of the cap 30, and which defines a tabwidth in the transverse direction of the wrench that is substantiallythe same as the thickness of the head core 18.

The other head cap 42 is similar to the cap 30, but without theretention tab. Thus, the cap 42 includes a fixed jaw portion 44 that iscomplementary to the fixed jaw portion 32 on the cap 30, and includes apawl retention portion 46 that is complementary to the correspondingportion 34 of the cap 30, having a forwardly and outwardly inclined edge48 corresponding to the edge 36. The cap 42 also has a generallystraight, forwardly facing inner edge 50 that is aligned with theforwardly facing, exposed surface of the retention tab 38 when the capsand wrench body are in their assembled relationship. This inner edge 50of the cap 42 is interrupted by a notch 52 which provides access forinsertion of an assembly tool behind the retention tab 38 proximate itsfree edge 40 to deflect the tab 38 forwardly for insertion of the pawl.

The side caps 30 and 42 are permanently metal bonded flush against theopposite sides of the head portion 18 of the body 16 by any desiredconventional metal bonding means, as for example by continuous welding,spot welding and copper brazing in combination, spot welding only,copper brazing only, projection welding, or other suitable means.

The pawl or ratcheting jaw 54 may be formed of sintered metal, or may beformed by other conventional means such as by die cutting and grinding,forging, or the like. Pawl 54 includes a generally flat inner wrenchingsurface 56 which is in opposed relationship to the fixed jaw wrenchingsurface 22, an arcuate outer bearing surface 58 which is complementaryto the arcuate outer raised surface 26 in the head body, and a stopshoulder 60 which projects forwardly from the inner end portion of thepawl 54 adjacent to the side of pawl 54 that corresponds to the cap 42of the head. An undercut spring retention notch 62 is provided in theinner end of pawl 54 for engagement with one end of helical pawl biasingspring 64, the other end of spring 64 being engageable against the fixedjaw 20 as is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outer end of pawl 54is preferably rounded to facilitate engagement thereof with a workpiecewhile at the same time avoiding galling or scratching of the workpieceby the pawl.

The pawl 54 and its biasing spring 64 are not engaged in their operativepositions in the head portion 14 of the wrench until fabrication of thewrench has otherwise been completed. Thus, the side caps 30 and 42 arepermanently metal bonded to the head portion 18 of the body of thewrench, and various finishing operations such as tumbling, heattreating, plating, and the like, can be performed on the completedwrench prior to assembly of the pawl and its biasing spring therein sothat such finishing operations will not in any way damage either thepawl or its biasing spring. The head portion 14 of the completed wrenchprior to insertion of the pawl 54 and its spring 62 therein is bestillustrated in FIG. 5. The spring 64 is connected to the inner end ofpawl 54 by engagement of one end of the spring into the retention notch62 in the inner end of the pawl, and if desired to facilitate assemblythe spring may be crimped into this position. Insertion of the pawl andspring into the recess in the wrench head 14 is accomplished as bestillustrated in FIG. 6 by engaging the end of a tapered pin typeinsertion tool 66 into the notch 52 of side cap 42 behind the retentiontab 38, and moving the tool 66 laterally to the right as viewed in FIG.6 so as to deflect the retention tab 38 by lever action to the left oroutwardly as viewed in FIG. 6, providing sufficient clearance to permitthe pawl stop shoulder 60 to move inwardly past the tab 38, at whichtime the insertion tool 66 is disengaged from tab 38 allowing the tab 38to spring back into its permanent closed position as best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3.

It will thus be seen that assembly of the form of wrench shown in FIGS.1 to 6 is very simple, involving a minimum of steps. These steps aresimply first metal bonding the side caps 30 and 42 to the head portion18 of the wrench body 16; then engaging one end of spring 64 in thenotch 62 of the pawl 54; and then inserting the pawl 54 and spring 64into the head cavity while temporarily deflecting the retention tab 38to provide clearance for such insertion by use of the insertion tool 66.

In the assembled condition of the wrench, the spring 64 normally biasesthe pawl 54 to a forwardrnost, extended torquing position as illustratedin FIG. 3, this position of the pawl being defined by engagement of stopshoulder 60 thereon with the retention tab 38. In this position of pawl54, its wrenching surface 56 is generally parallel to the fixed jawwrenching surface 22. During engagement of the wrench head 14 over anut, bolt head, or other workpiece, according to the positioning of thefacets of the workpiece, the pawl 54 may be engageable over a respectivefacet of the workpiece without being retracted from its forwardmostposition of FIG. 3, or during engagement the pawl 54 may be pushedinwardly along the arcuate outer race surface 26 of the head so that thepawl jaw surface 56 is opened relative to the fixed jaw surface 22 topermit engagement of the workpiece between the two jaws. The inclinededges 36 and 48 of the respective side caps 30 and 42 provide thenecessary clearance for this opening of the jaws, while neverthelessleaving sufficient cap material for secure retention of the pawl 54 inthe head. This ability of the pawl 54 to be deflected inwardly to openthe jaws permits the wrench to be engaged straight onto the workpieceeven if the workpiece is in a relatively tightly confined region, andthe forward biasing of the pawl by means of spring 64 causes the pawl toautomatically seek and grip a wrenching surface on the workpiece. Ifsuch a wrenching surface does not immediately become aligned with thepawl surface 56, wiggling the wrench back and forth will cause thenecessary automatic adjustment of the pawl relative to the workpiece forgripping action to be effected. Then, ratchet wrenching is accomplishedby simply swinging the handle portion 12 of the wrench back and forththrough a confined arc of travel, the pawl 54 gripping the workpiece asthe handle is swung anticlockwise as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 so as toturn the workpiece through an increment of movement, and the pawl 54retracting into the head as the handle is swung clockwise as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 3 to permit the pawl to recover gripping position on anotherfacet of the workpiece, and in this manner a succession of torquingimpulses are applied to the workpiece.

FIGS. 7 to 10 of the drawings illustrate a second form of wrenchaccording to the present invention which is generally designated 68, andincludes respective handle and head portions that are generallydesignated 70 and 72. In this form of the invention the core or bodyportion 74 of the wrench head comprises a plurality of separatelaminations 76 which may be die cut or fine blanked, and which are metalbonded together by electron beam welding, fusion TIG welding, or othersuitable metal bonding means.

This laminated core or body portion 74 of the wrench head is generallysimilar to the head portion 18 of the body 16 of the first form ofwrench that is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, except for the inner raceconstruction. Thus, the core or body portion 74 of the wrench head 72includes a fixed jaw portion 78 having a generally flat wrenchingsurface 80, and an opposed pawl support portion 82 which defines part ofan arcuate outer race surface 84 which continues into the yoke part ofthe head core 74. The pawl support portion 82 terminates at its free endin inclined end surface 86.

In the form of wrench shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 the inner race structurefor the pawl, which serves to retain the pawl in the head cavity, isformed integrally with the core or body portion 74 of the wrench head,projecting from the fixed jaw portion 78 generally normal to thewrenching surface 80 thereof, but having its inner surface curved toprovide clearance for the arcuate sliding movement of the pawl betweenits extended and retracted positions. Accordingly, in the form of wrenchshown in FIGS. 7 to 10 wherein the core or body portion 74 of the wrenchhead is of laminar construction, the pawl is retained by inner racestructure 88 which is formed as an integral part of such core or bodyportion of the wrench head rather than being formed by tab means bentinwardly from at least one of the side caps of the head as in the firstform of wrench shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

In the form of wrench shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 a pair of complementaryouter laminations 90 and 92 each have a handle portion 94, a cap portion96, and an intermediate neck portion 98. The cap portions 96 of theouter laminations 90 and 92 each have a fixed jaw portion 100 whichoverlays a respective side of the fixed jaw 78 of the head core or body74, and a pawl retention portion 102 which overlaps a respective side ofthe pawl support portion 82 of the head core 74 and also defines arespective side of the arcuate channel in the head within which the pawlis slidably mounted. The jaw retention portions 102 of the caps 96 eachhave a forwardly and outwardly inclined edge 104 to provide clearancefor the pawl as the pawl ratchets inwardly from its extended positionshown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to a retracted ratcheting position as shown inFIG. 10. The cap portions of the outer laminations also each have agenerally straight, forwardly facing inner edge 106.

The outer laminations 90 and 92 and the core or body portion 74 of thewrench head are assembled by permanently metal bonding the cap portions96 of the outer laminations 90 and 92 to the opposite sides of the coreof body portion 74 of the head, and similarly permanently metal bondingthe handle portions 94 of the two outer laminations 90 and 92 togetherand filling any openings that may be present at the edges of the wrenchproximate the intermediate neck portions 98 of the outer laminations.Such permanent metal bonding may be electron beam, welding, fusion TIGwelding, or other suitable means.

While the core or body portion of the head has been shown in FIG. 7 as aseparate laminar unit 74 which is permanently metal bonded between thetwo outer laminations 90 and 92 which then form both the head side capsand the handle of the wrench, it is to be understood that variations maybe employed in the laminar type wrench according to the presentinvention. For example, if desired, the wrench handle may consist of oneor more laminations which are integral extensions of the laminations 76which form the core or body portion 74 of the wrench head, and with suchconstruction the outer laminations may each include both handle and headcap portions, or may simply only comprise head cap portions. Also, ifdesired, the handle laminations may be bowed outwardly as viewed incross section and then seam welded along their upper and lower edges toform a handle of tubular construction.

While the laminar wrench of FIGS. 7 to 10 is illustrated as having acore or body portion 74 of the head which includes four of the separatelaminations 76, and a handle portion which includes two handlelamination portions 94, it is to be understood that any desired numberof laminations may be provided in either the head core portion 74 or thehandle portion 70 within the scope of the invention. Additional strengthmay be embodied in the laminar form of the invention by crossing themetal grain in the respective laminations.

After the head and handle laminations have been permanently metal bondedtogether to form a unitary head and handle structure, this structure maybe finished in any desired manner, as for example by being tumbled, heattreated, plated, or the like.

The pawl 54 and its biasing spring 64 are the same in the laminar formof the invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 as the corresponding parts shownin FIGS. 1 to 6 and described hereinabove in detail in connectiontherewith. In the laminar form of the invention retention of the pawl 54and its biasing spring 64 within the arcuate channel defined in thewrench head 72 is accomplished by inward deformation of a detent 108formed on the free end of at least one of the inner race laminations 88which lies in the same general plane as the stop shoulder 60 on pawl 54.This detent 108 is preferably defined by an undercut region of therespective inner race lamination 88 as best shown in FIG. 9, and topermit the detent 108 to be readily deformed inwardly, it is not metalbonded to adjacent laminations. In its initial position as illustratedin FIG. 7, the detent 108 and the free ends of the other inner racelaminations 88 provide sufficient clearance at the entrance of thearcuate channel within the wrench head 72 for insertion of the pawl 54and its biasing spring 64 into the arcuate channel.

Thus, final assembly of the wrench is accomplished by simply insertingthe pawl 54 and its biasing spring 64 into the arcuate channel withinthe wrench head 72, and then permanently deforming the detent 108inwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the detent 108lies in the arcuate path of movement of the stop shoulder 60 on pawl 54,so that the pawl is permanently retained in the head of the wrench. Thismay be the final operation in the manufacture of the laminar form ofwrench according to the invention. However, if desired the forwardlyfacing surface of the inner race structure may be ground inwardly as afinishing step so that the deformed detent 108 is no longer visible,provided that the wrench is made of a material such as stainless steelor the like which does not require platmg.

It will be apparent that the fully assembled laminar form of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 functions in the same manner as thesolid body form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

While the present invention has been shown and described herein in whatare conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein.

We claim:

1. An open end ratchet wrench which comprises a head having a fixed jawthereon and defining a generally forwardly opening arcuate channeltherein, a ratchet pawl mounted in said channel for arcuate slidingmovement between an extended torquing position wherein it is generallyopposed to said fixed jaw and a retracted ratcheting position, said pawlhaving an inwardly extending projection, and detent means comprising abendable integral tab means on the head bendable between an openposition providing clearance for insertion of said pawl into saidchannel and a closed position overlying said channel wherein it isengageable against said projection on said pawl to retain the pawl inthe head and to define the outer limit of sliding movement of the pawlin the head.

2. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said headis of laminar construction and said detent means is integral withat-least one of the laminations of said laminar head.

3. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said headincludes a pair of side caps permanently metal bonded thereto, and saidtab means is formed on at least one of said side caps and extendsinwardly generally transversely relative to the general plane of thewrench head.

4. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said tabmeans is normally disposed in said closed position and is resilientlydeflectable to said open position for insertion of the pawl into thechannel, the tab means springing back to said closed position uponrelease thereof after insertion of the pawl.

5. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said tabmeans comprises a tab formed on one of said side caps and extendingtransversely therefrom to a free edge disposed adjacent to the otherside cap.

6. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 5, wherein said pawlhas shoulder means formed adjacent tth'dth fhih dsts'dth'd o e d talf lsin g ngrm l l y iii gosed iii sa id iio s'eg cap, sai position whereinsaid shoulder means on the pawl is engageable with the tab proximate itssaid free edge, and the tab proximate its said free edge beingresiliently deflectable to said open position wherein it providesclearance for passage thereby of said shoulder means on the pawl toallow insertion of the pawl into the channel, the free edge portion ofthe tab springing back to said closed position upon release thereofafter insertion of the pawl.

7. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 6, wherein said otherside cap has notch means therein providing access to the space in saidchannel immediately behind said tab proximate its said free edge,whereby a pawl insertion tool is insertable through said notch meansinto said space and manipulatable to resiliently deflect the free edgeportion of the tab to said open position.

8. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said headis of laminar construction and at least one of said laminations includesa pawl retention portion projecting from said fixed jaw and having afree end partly defining the opening of said channel, said detent meanscomprising a deformable tip on said free end that may be disposed insaid open position for insertion of the pawl into the channel and isinwardly deformable to said closed position.

9. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, including a helicalcompression spring, said pawl having an undercut notch in its inner endwithin which one end of said spring is engaged.

1. An open end ratchet wrench which comprises a head having a fixed jawthereon and defining a generally forwardly opening arcuate channeltherein, a ratchet pawl mounted in said channel for arcuate slidingmovement between an extended torquing position wherein it is generallyopposed to said fixed jaw and a retracted ratcheting position, said pawlhaving an inwardly extending projection, and detent means comprising abendable integral tab means on the head bendable between an openposition providing clearance for insertion of said pawl into saidchannel and a closed position overlying said channel wherein it isengageable against said projection on said pawl to retain the pawl inthe head and to define the outer limit of sliding movement of the pawlin the head.
 2. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1,wherein said head is of laminar construction and said detent means isintegral with at least one of the laminations of said laminar head. 3.An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said headincludes a pair of side caps permanently metal bonded thereto, and saidtab means is formed on at least one of said side caps and extendsinwardly generally transversely relative to the general plane of thewrench head.
 4. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 3,wherein said tab means is normally disposed in said closed position andis resiliently deflectable to said open position for insertion of thepawl into the channel, the tab means springing back to said closedposition upon release thereof after insertion of the pawl.
 5. An openend ratchet wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said tab meanscomprises a tab formed on one of said side caps and extendingtransversely therefrom to a free edge disposed adjacent to the otherside cap.
 6. An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 5, whereinsaid pawl has shoulder means formed adjacent to the side thereof whichcorresponds to said other side cap, said tab being normally disposed insaid closed position wherein said shoulder means on the pawl isengageable with the tab proximate its said free edge, and the tabproximate its said free edge being resiliently deflectable to said openposition wherein it provides clearance for passage thereby of saidshoulder means on the pawl to allow insertion of the pawl into thechannel, the free edge portion of the tab springing back to said closedposition upon release thereof after insertion of the pawl.
 7. An openend ratchet wrench as defined in claim 6, wherein said other side caphas notch means therein providing access to the space in said channelimmediately behind said tab proximate its said free edge, whereby a pawlinsertion tool is insertable through said notch means into said spaceand manipulatable to resiliently deflect the free edge portion of thetab to said open position.
 8. An open end ratchet wrench as defined inclaim 1, wherein said head is of laminar construction and at least oneof said laminations includes a pawl retention portion projecting fromsaid fixed jaw and having a free end partly defining the opening of saidchannel, said detent means comprising a deformable tip on said free endthat may be disposed in said open position for insertion of the pawlinto the channel and is inwardly deformable to said closed position. 9.An open end ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, including a helicalcompression spring, said pawl having an undercut notch in its inner endwithin which one end of said spring is engaged.